Back to the Everglades for an eight day expedition with my friend Al Borchers [photo gallery]. This year we decided to attempt some more difficult routes, starting with a long paddle to North River Chickee on the first day. It was quickly apparent that the “great freeze of 2010″ had occurred the week before—there were [...]
This video is sure to brighten your day! Apparently it was thought only humans could dance to a beat. Lots of animals can be trained to go through the motions, but they cannot actually respond to music in complex ways. That was until the world discovered Snowball the Cockatoo!
Check out additional video with the NPR [...]
I met this fellow while canoeing at sunset. The Barred Owl (Strix varia) is common in North Florida. I hear him almost every week. He says “Who cooks, who cooks for you allllll” so I guess you could say he’s a southern bird at heart. <wink>
Every Spring I look forward to the return of Swallow-Tailed Kites (Elanoides forficatus) from their South American sojourn. I’ve seen two so far this year. In the US this bird is almost unique to Florida, where it comes to breed. I can still remember the first time I saw one driving along a rural [...]
For all its splendor and power, the Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) has a dark side: opportunist and bully. I once watched one harass an Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) until the later gave up its catch. In addition to stealing from other birds, Bald Eagles can subsist completely on carrion. In spite of the name, Bald Eagles are more closely related [...]